[Spoilers] Campaign Review and Improvements

[NovaCameron]

I love this game. Let's get that out of the way. I haven't been this happy with a game in a very long time. Granted it has some beginning issues like all games yet the base is solid and it is now my favorite game replacing Freelancer which has been there for some 12 years.

Now that my praise has been completed for now let me get down to the real issue. The campaign was a disappointment. For various reasons, lack of direction, lack of characters, lack of world usage. It was great for a while, but then it quickly fell a part. And honestly? It didn't have to happen. There is this massive world and I didn't get to see any of it through the story. There is so much there ready to use that I wanted to hit something.

The tutorial was amazing. It was an amazing set up and I had such high hopes for the story. The characters were well done and I loved them immediately. After the tutorial I had such fun doing missions and learning about Gemini. By the time I was put in charge of Concord I was so happy. Things were going well, the story sucked me in, I couldn't wait for more. It only got more interesting as the campaign progressed. By the time I was going to build the Proxima I couldn't wait for more and loved every minute.

I will stop here and say looking back I should of seen the issues. I will also organize this into 'chapters' like a book cause it should be. This is a story and it has arcs. First arc was the Tutorial, which I will put in the part you are not in charge of Concord. The Phaehana chapter was Concord consolidating that area and connecting with the Baeldor Republic and investigating Nexus. This was the high point. This was when the story looked like it was going to take off. But then... It all fell apart. Fast.

After the Phaehana arc there was nothing. I thought that I was going to have to go to war with Nexus and help save the Baeldor Republic. It looked like I would and I was pumped for it. But then I got some fetch missions for the Proxima and then... nothing. I putted around waiting for something to fire. Then I built the Proxima and Emmerix stole it and I was so disappointed. I was like staring at my screen going no. This is not happening. You did not just pull that on me. I thought maybe, just maybe, there was a good reason. That there was a saving grace I didn't see yet. But once the final battle happened I was sighing and groaning cause there was such promise! It was so good! And then it just collapsed and I literally don't know why. Like can you please hit your story writer on the head for me?

Honestly... I mean the story literally writes itself. You set up the Black Oath to be a great antagonist and then went 'Oh nope all a trick!'. This is how the story should of gone.

Phaehana arc: Everything is good so far. You find out Nexus and the Black Oath are building a Proxima copy. Awesome. You watch the Baeldor Republic start its civil war. You collect all your pieces so slowly start your conquest.

Bealdor arc: You thought you had time to investigate Nexus more. Find out more about the Black Oath but Sentchuk is pushing Maginot hard and Baeldor needs your help. A few missions helping Baeldor gets you to be close buddies. They wouldn't of let you settle so close if they didn't like you already! (Maxton is your go to guy here.)

Nexus arc: But alas you thought you had time. Your Proxima is almost done. Baeldor is convinced you won't attack them. The Republics and Concord are allied. And then Nexus invades Sora. Backed up with their Proxima copy. Norica falls to Nexus to cut you off. You rush the Sora's defense and defeat the Proxima copy and invade the Nexus. You find and destroy the Proxima copy. Also you seize Penance with Heeland and Astralia in this war if you haven't already. After the Nexus arc you are supporting the Republic and have Phaehana, Astralia, Nexus, and Penance (maybe Nordica aswell) and possible Scourge and the Gallows. (Cause Hexen and the Nexus Insurgence is annoying you and Baeldor.) (Mostly combination of Trance and Emmerix)

Astralia arc: This arc isn't so much invading but holding the line and improving your fleets and regions. Trance gives you various missions to help build up. Also missions to fix up some of the old broken stations that are around, like the terraformer around Heeland or orphil, or edea. Bringing glory to the Concord. (I should also state that there should be little station fixing stories giving by Trance to help fix things laying around Gemini. Also there should be region 'approval ratings' which will become important.) (Trance and Higgs help you here, Trance for the stations, Hiigs for Revenent policing, Emmerix for industry.)

Sentchuk arc: Your actions have not gone unnoticed by the powers of Gemini! The Concord's swift defeat and annexation of Nexus echoes across Gemini as fears of a new Empire seem to be true! Sentchuk organizes the Core Worlds Alliance and Yxaril and Nyx join them, with Trinity in support. Though neither like each other too much they both seek to cut the Concord down to size. The Outlands joins surprisingly in return for recognition. A four pronged attack on the Republic and Concord seems to be working. Defeating the Sentchuk fleet over Baeldor, again, an Outlands fleet in the Gallows, a Yxaril fleet near Sora, and a Nyx fleet in Will o the Wisp is the challenge of this arc. (All characters in this one. Panic galore. Also multi-fleet ops as you will not be everywhere at once.)

Sora Arc: Defeating those fleets leave Gemini holding it's breath. Who will the Concord hit back at first? Yet this action leaves a more pressing matter for the Republic. It is now wedded to Concord to death. In the back drop of a system wide war the Republic dies by a thousand cuts as Sora joins Concord. Maxton heads to Baeldor to get a response from the senate there. Concord manages to hold the line as the Republic is absorbed peacefully into Concord. And various policing missions and approval work for the former Republic. (Mostly Maxton here and the Baroness of Sora! Yay for a new character.)

Outlands arc: With the absorption of the Baeldor Republic it is time for Concord to strike back! Nysa commands this arc as the target is the Outlands and southern pirate factions. A massive fighting campaign through Atilla's Whip, Decadence Ward, and finally a serious assault on the Outerlands and Solyma. (The first real one, Heeland doesn't really count as it should of easily flipped.) Sea of Sorrow is also invaded, just not whatever the Union has taken. (Nysa centric!)

Iolian arc: It just keeps getting harder for Concord! The Iolian Pact is invited to the Core Worlds Alliance and accepts. This trigger a civil war between Iolia and MultiOps. The Iolian Monachy asks for help. This triggers an assult on the Northern regions. Last Ditch, a crippling invasion of Rapture, and Kingsway is seized to eliminate pirates and provide a route to Iolia. An invasion of the now defunct Iolion Pact takes place ending with a massive battle over Iolia. (Baroness or Sora centric, with Maxton's help, with Higgs in support.)

Trinity arc: This war is getting out of hand. The southern states lead by Gemini Protectorate form the Gemini Coalition, a massive counter balance to both Concord and the Core worlds. A meeting is scheduled near Trinity to try and end the war. Concord is over extended, Core worlds have been beaten up but are still standing, and the Gemini Coalition is just annoyed at the whole thing. The meeting predictably doesn't end well. This arc is more diplomatically centered. And everyone is involved! A forced peace exists in the Trinity Free States. Yet of course we can't have nice things and the Black Oath messes everything up and you have to escape. Trinity blames Concord, but the Gemini Coalition get sympathetic to Concord. Yes we forgot about the Black Oath cause of the massive war and everything. (lots of characters, get to know the other factions involved more, even places you have conquered get new, or old, supporting characters.)

Yxaril arc: It is time to knock out parts of the Core Worlds Alliance. Your targets are Corrion and Carthagena. But Trance has been back on the case of the Black Oath due to the battle at Trinity. Finding out what they have been doing this whole time. And it doesn't look good. After you conquer Corrion and Carthagena all hell break loose. (Trace for the Black Oath, Higgs for Yxaril, and Maxton for Corrion.)

Syndicate arc: The Black Oath have deactivated the Lens and A'Shriari are pouring through the Starpoint. The Geminii Coalition is holding them, barely. Your job is to get to the Lens and turn it back on. The Black Oath had help from the Syndicate. Willingly, or unwillingly it matters not. They must be crushed. Yet rebellion spreads through Concord as factions you though crushed spring back like from the dead. You must race around crushing rebellion and defeating pirate fleets, as well as finding and reactivating the Lens. (This is where approval comes into play as a rebelling region can revert to original ownership.) (Nysa and Trance centric.)

Eanaki arc: The Geminii Coalition is falling and Nyx is your next target. Quickly seize Nyx as the A'Shriari invade the Trinity Free States. Rush to Eanaki where you battle the weakened A'Shariari. Seize it and find out why the A'Shriari are still here. They found a way to limit the effects of the Lens somehow. Attack Trinity and seize it. (Trance centric and supporting characters.)

Gemini arc: The end is near. Rush through the old southern states and crush the A'Shriari and push them back through the Starpoint in a massive battle. Absorb the old Southern states as you complete your conquest of Gemini. Yet you now know you are not safe. What is next for the now fearful yet united Gemini?

Fin

See this would have been something I thought was going to happen. A massive tour of Gemini through conquest. Knowledge gained through firepower. I was so pumped for it and then it didn't happen. See? There are specific arcs with each one being a goal in itself. I knew nothing of this universe and as I read through the Geminipedia I got more and more excited cause there are so many hints there! So much just waiting for the story to be written.

Unfortunately it didn't happen. Yet my little story would of required a few more game mechanics. Station story building, region approval, rebellion, and greater character involvement. Perhaps for the future then? Will I ever get this type of Campaign? I dunno. I hope I will. This universe is so compelling and interesting. It will be something I keep going back to. Something I will want more of.

[Evangelion]

Hire this man!

I had exactly the same thoughts about the campaign!

[Geek]

I understand your point, but the story have never been about full conquest - you can do that after it is over, but it is not the goal.

[NovaCameron]

That's what I am saying. The story isn't about conquest but a reaction to events that are happening. The conquest that I portray just happens as a result of actions taken by other factions and characters. That's what makes it so interesting. The Concord does want to become a reborn Empire but due to people fearing such a thing it becomes a self-fulling prophecy. The story isn't about the conquest. It is purely factions attacking Concord due to fear or powergrabs or anger from the past. This is just a rough outline. The actual story, characters, and missions would end up be far more detailed than this.

And with their reactions and what they do, we learn about them and understand them. Without the story the factions have as much depth as a side in a game of risk. They are just pieces on the board. I actually don't want a game of pure conquest. I think it is slightly boring. I want story. I want depth. I want to understand who I am shooting at and why. Not just oh you have a puzzle peice I want.

[Geek]

Still, you are saying that the story should end with the whole conquest.
That is beyond the scope of the storyline. There should be something to do after it.

[NovaCameron]

No there shouldn't be. If you want to just conquer the map and paint the map yellow you can do that in free play. A story that ended with the conquest of the map is better as it is a complete wrapped up game with a certain style of play. Let me make this clear: I DO NOT like conquest for the sake of conquest. After the story ended I quit my game as I saw no reason to just rampage through gemini for fun. There was no REASON to keep playing. I was invested in the characters and wanted to keep learning about them and exploring the world through story.

I started a freeroam if I want to paint the map yellow, which is what I am doing now. But I wanted to have a game with just a story. To set up some DLC or a sequal or something! You may disagree with me and some may like a tiny story to get them involved and show them how to play like an extended tutorial. But I want a massive story to go with the massive about of detail and information that gets me all curious about learning about Gemini.

I wanted a Pure Story game. Beginning to end. Like a book. At least once. I can go all conquering all over as much as I want in Free Play. But with a Campaign I wanted a complete story to show me a world I have never been to before. I even liked all the text and the art style of the game! It was perfect. Gemini doesn't need massive cutscenes or animated characters. I like it just the way it is. I just want more.

[Geek]

I guess wee can agree to disagree then.

[freelancer909]

I agree that the campaign does not have a good endiing. That said Freelancer was the same way. It had about a 30 hour campaign and then you were on your own. I agree with NovaCameron that most people would have liked longer main campaign.